𝑭𝑮 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝑻𝒐 𝑺𝒉𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝑾𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑽𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎

The Federal Government may shut down the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in the next two weeks if motorists fail to obey safety rules.

Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, gave the warning on Monday during a press briefing. He said the Minister of Works, David Umahi, directed that the road be closed if there is no improvement.

“In another two weeks, if there’s no improvement, His Excellency has directed that we are coming back to shut down the road,” Dare said.

He said the government is worried over overspeeding, illegal parking of trucks, illegal U-turns, Okada and Keke on the highway, street trading, and open grazing.

According to him, the Lagos portion is about 103km made up of 47.474km and 56km sections with 10 major bridges planned for each section. Construction is still ongoing on the bridges.

“Ordinarily, we ought not to have opened it until all the bridges are completed,” he said.

Dare said despite the 30km/h limit clearly displayed, many drivers do up to 120km/h on active construction zones, leading to frequent loss of lives.

“Lives are being lost on the coastal road. Almost every other day,” he said.

He disclosed that the Lagos Police Commissioner, Fatai Tijani, has deployed more officers to the highway, and that over 100 Okada riders were arrested last week. Okada, Keke and similar vehicles remain banned, while illegally parked trucks will be towed and offenders prosecuted.

Dare also raised alarm over vandalism. He said about 5km of clear view fencing and 18km of drainage covers have been stolen, including road signs. Vandals operate at night despite patrols.

“You install it today, in less than one week it’s gone. It means we have to change the strategy,” he said, adding that government may replace fencing with block walls in high-risk areas.

He said at least 10 illegal settlements along the corridor will be demolished, hawking will be stopped, and CCTV cameras will be installed. Government has also approved 40 coastal guards nominated by host communities to work with the police, to be deployed within two weeks.

Dare warned truck operators using the Gypsy Port area as a garage to vacate, saying a joint task force will clear the area this week.

“We don’t want that place to be turned into another apartment. We are going there this week with the task force and flush all those trucks away,” he said.

He noted that the road surface in Section One is 100% completed, but bridge works continue and the project is still within its three-year timeline.

“It’s not going to be business as usual,” Dare warned, urging all road users to comply.

In January, Works Minister Umahi had also threatened closure on Channels TV after a construction worker died in Section One, but said President Bola Tinubu directed that the road should stay open then to ease traffic.